TOMORROW: Brooks to Hold Second Hearing on Social Media & Emergency Management; Duncan to Examine Iran’s Extending Influence in the Western Hemisphere

Media Contact: Charlotte Sellmyer (202) 226-8417

Washington, D.C. – The Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, chaired by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN), and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, chaired by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), will conduct the following hearings tomorrow.

Subcommittee Chairman Brooks (R-IN) on the hearing: “Our society is becoming increasingly more technological and we must ensure that the emergency response community is embracing these advancements. Last month, the Subcommittee began its examination of the impact of social media – such as Facebook and Twitter – and new technology on our emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Tuesday’s hearing will continue that discussion with federal, state, local, and NGO partners to learn how emergency management practitioners are leveraging these capabilities and working with the private sector, particularly through the lens of recent disasters.”

* Opening statements, witness testimony, and live video will be available HERE.

TUESDAY, July 9 at 2:00 p.m.

Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency

Threat to the Homeland: Iran’s Extending Influence in the Western Hemisphere

Subcommittee Chairman Duncan (R-SC) on the hearing: “Iran’s perpetual defiance of U.S. and international sanctions, coupled with its propensity for sponsoring international terrorism worldwide, constitutes a recipe for instability and a threat to U.S. homeland security. Yet, the Administration is both conflicted and in denial over this threat. While the intelligence community and Department of Defense have sounded serious alarms about Iran’s influence in the Western Hemisphere, the State Department late last month declared that it is ‘waning.’ This assessment blatantly ignores a critical recent three-year investigation in Argentina, which uncovered the dangers from Iran’s activities in the Western Hemisphere. I am deeply troubled that the Argentine government is preventing Mr. Alberto Nisman, the prosecutor heading this investigation, from testifying on his findings tomorrow. Nevertheless, our hearing will examine these important findings and consider the threat to U.S. homeland security from Iran’s presence so near our borders. Wearing blinders to the Iranian threat will not make it go away.”

* Opening statements, witness testimony, and live video will be available HERE.